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Daniel tensed as Lynn shouted. Despite the fact that it had been his own suggestion. He wouldn't be so nervous if they would just meet someone. The partial abandonment of the Hollow was eerie. The apparent systematic destruction of all portraits unnerved him as well. It was like someone had gone through and erased the place's memories. He forced himself to take a breath and relax.
Forn Clakes liked this post
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Morgan almost let out a whistle at sight but doesn't. She stays quiet, as she said she would.
ooc: Sorry for delayed replies, I've been a little under the weather but I am starting to feel better.
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Lynn's voice echoed across the grand hallway, bouncing from the stone walls and high ceiling, the sound cutting across the music that was playing from the crack in the door. The moment of her announcement, a change could be noted. The gramophone that was indicated by Morgan continued to play but the clapping ceased, as did the laughter. Voices could be heard, some gutteral and harsh, others more mechanical and tinny.
The doors were violently pulled open wide as several figures strode, rolled or lolloped out to meet the Motley, each one as unique as the next, stopping several yards away; a wall between them and the room behind.
An avian-like hob with a curved, silvery beak and red, blue and purple plumage that gives it a crowned aspect. It stands on two taloned feet and click's it's beak menacingly as it glares at the group.
A short, rotund, brass-coloured clockwork figure trundles out on a pair of short tank-tracks. It looks like a kettle drum on wheels. The pair of heavy metal orbs where it's hands should be look more than capable of crushing a person's skull.
A small, mechanical cat whirs around on four wheels, eyes lighting up as it targets the motley. It's tail, a tall radio-antenna, sticks up toward the ceiling and twitches in anticipation.
A blue-skinned hob, like the kind Lynn, Daniel and Morgan have already met, stands with a curved glass scimitar in a double-handed grip. Unlike those at HAL's camp, this one does not wear the apparel of workman. Rather, it holds itself as a seasoned warrior.
By the door is a hulking brute that reminds them of an white-marble archway with a pair of onyx eyes. It has no arms, just thick, stone 'legs' and five downward facing metal spikes that could be teeth or a portcullis.
Finally, the music is switched off from some unseen hand. A voice, light, young, female, could be heard from inside the room, ushering for some calm, no doubt directed at the others left beyond the door.
"You are trespassing," the avian hob says, beak clicking as it looks at the group it could spot.
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Lynn couldn't help jumping a bit at the sudden appearance of the automatons in the door. They were definitely not friendly, but so far they weren't attacking, so maybe they had a chance to negotiate. Licking her lips, she took a half step forwards, carefully making sure that she didn't come between Marcus and any of the creatures.
"We're very sorry to have bothered you. I knocked when we first came in, but I don't think that anybody could hear." She glanced around at the group facing them and mentally crossed her fingers. "We were hoping to find some research that was left behind by the former owner of this place." A hand wave indicated the hall they stood in. "We were hoping that we would be able to come to some sort of agreement with you all in order to gain access to anything that's left of the library." She drew a breath and spread her hands in a kind of offering gesture. "We would of course be willing to offer some sort of compensation for your time and any inconvenience this would cause you."
Diplomacy - 6 suxx
She made sure to speak in a clear and carrying voice, both so that the others in the room could hear and be reassured that they were not under attack, but so that everybody could hear that an offer was being made.
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Morgan eyes the procession with worry. The two hobs looked like fighters and so did the treaded mechanical person. The cat looked cute in a strange way, but the thing wouldn't have come out if it wasn't capable of fighting somehow, right?
The raccoon tried to keep very still and quiet, hoping that she and Degnar, whom she couldn't even detect, were still unnoticed.
ooc: Should I make a stealth roll again?
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Marcus slowly shifts to Lynn's right flank and tries his best to appear nonthreatening. Although the metalflesh studies each of the creatures that appear before them, his gaze definitely lingers on the clockwork figure and the mechanical cat. He waits to see how they respond to the darkling's words.
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Daniel smiled calmly beside Lynn as she spoke. He had to admit she did sound very persuasive, though a little off. Like she was adjusting her tone to fit a more 'hobgoblin' sensibility. Not that Daniel knew what hobs considered sensible, but he imagined it would be something along the lines of what Lynn had said and how she had said it. Almost with a thrumming energy behind her voice, lending a subtle tenor to the words.
He waited for the hobs' reply. Ready to judge the truthfulness of their words.
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Lynn's words made the avian and the blue exchange glances, perhaps out of confusion or unexpected manner in which she had presented the group. Before any of them could react, movement came from the doorway, gliding out like a dancer and moving gracefully past the hulking marble arch, which moved aside respectfully. She wore a long black dress and was barefoot. She wore no makeup and her skin was flawless and as white as untouched snow. An innocence and naivety filled her very being and as she cocked her head at the changelings, she showed an interest in who they were.
"You are not bothering us in any way, travelers," she said, her voice as young as her appearance. "My friends are just very protective of me, especially since the last owner of this place attempted to throttle the very life from me." A sad smile touched her eyes and suddenly every member of the Motley could see it.
This girl, who was no older than eighteen years in appearance, was a perfect copy of the Freehold's longest reigning Monarch.
"My name is Kathryn and it has been such a very long time since we had guests. Would you come and talk with me, with us?"
Kathryn, Presence 3 (Innocent), Striking Looks 4 (Snow-White Skin)
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Lynn smiled and nodded her head. She'd only met Katrin once or twice before, so it took her a moment to make the connection. And once she did, she couldn't say she was surprised. It was just one more example how just dangerously unstable HAL was.
"Hello," Lynn smiled at the young woman and stepped forwards a bit. "We'd love to sit and chat with you all. My name is Lynn, this is Daniel and Marcus" she waved a bit to each as she introduced them. "I'm sorry about what happened to you at the hands of the former owner of this place. We certainly understand why you would be wary of strangers after something like that."
Stage Directions
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Morgan's eyes bugged out at the sight of Katrin's, very lively looking, doppleganger. HAL's explanation had made the Twilit Page anticipate meeting a clockwork woman or something like that with a pretty facial mask. She did not expect to meet an double of the woman that had gifted her with a pocket watch (along with good advice). Though this Kathryn didn't exude the same regalness or power of the original, she also didn't set off any of the Beast's prey instincts. In the raccoon's book, that was always a good sign.
Oookay, starting to get an idea of WHY Katrin would know lots about HAL's exile. HAL is-or-was a creepy, obessive stalker of Katrin and bad-crazy. There is a good-crazy? Yeah any "stable" 'ling is good-crazy. I'm in favor of helping Katrin-no! Chibi-Katrin-no-no! Kathryn! Help Kathryn over HAL. It-she less creepy, she seems alive so slavery unacceptable, and Kathryn probably be upset-vexed if we helped her stalker get control over a copy of her.
Morgan wouldn't support favoring HAL if the others went that way. At least the raccoon was still hidden, if Lynn's lack of introduction was accurate. Though Morgan had a plan if her introduction was requested: unstealth behind Marcus and peek out as meekly as possible.
Stage Directions
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